Lottery Draft Format (1 Viewer)

[BIGGjohnny]

My local league is trying a very unique draft strategy this year. Our commish bought a bingo machine and we will be randomly drawing spots out of the bingo hopper. But here is the kicker, we are bidding on the balls. It is probably going to be $10/ball. (entry fee is a flat fee of $50) 75 balls total.

The first two draft picks come from lottery selections out of the bingo machine. After that, in order to take some of the luck factor out of it, the third spot will go to the next highest bidder rather than the machine. The fourth pick out of the bingo machine, the fifth as the next highest bidder, and we will alternate every other pick after that. That way if someone buys alot of balls they do not get screwed and end up getting the 14 slot.

We have 14 people in the league and to add another unique twist we have a different draft order to encourage owners to bid $$ on lottery balls. The draft order will go:

1-14

1-14 AGAIN

14-1

1-14

14-1

1-14

1-14 AGAIN

14-1

1-14

serpentine rest of the way.

I have had the #1 pick the past few years and have ended up having a DOMINANT team and cruising to the championship 3 straight years. (thanks to FootballGuys!) Last year I went LT2 and then got Ocho Cinco with the first pick in the 2nd round. There is a clear and decisive advantage to landing a top pick in this style of draft.

But, my question to you is...if you were part of this league, knowing that it is $50 entry and $10 per ball. How many balls would you bid on to give yourself a realistic chance of landing a top 5 pick? Where would you want to be in the draft order at a minimum? How much would you be willing to invest and still feel that you're Return On Investment is strong. In past years some owners have bid as high as $100 and as low as zero.

Let me know if you have any questions or input!

Thanks

BIGG Johnny

THE ASSclowns

 

[BIGGjohnny]

Do all of you think this is ridiculous or does nobody have any input?

 

[jagbag]

Do all of you think this is ridiculous or does nobody have any input?

 

[faux_bear]

I don't think you need to thank footballguys for your 3 straight championships. Just thank your boneheaded commissioner for creating this silly league that pretty much allows you to buy titles.

Having gotten that out of the way, I think you need to absolutely make sure you get a top 5 pick, and bid accordingly. Considering that all your leaguemates probably now realize that they stand no chance of winning with a pick in the bottom half, they will probably all bid more than in recent years, so you should bid more as well.

bingo balls...is this the Shady Pines League?

 

[BIGGjohnny]

There are alot of owners questioning the Return on Investment in this lottery fomat. What if I bid $100 and another owner only bids $10. I have invested $150 in the league and they have invested $55.

And they get lucky and get one of the top 2 spots and I am left with 3, 5 or 7.

Should I bid HEAVY?

 

[chris1969]

Your strategy in that league is to either buy enough chances to ensure you get the #1 or 2 pick, hope by blind luck you get the # 1 or 2 pick, or quit the league, because the only guys with a chance are the guys with a #1 or 2 pick.

 

[The Jerk]

Your strategy in that league is to either buy enough chances to ensure you get the #1 or 2 pick, hope by blind luck you get the # 1 or 2 pick, or quit the league, because the only guys with a chance are the guys with a #1 or 2 pick.

Sounds like the best option to me. Actually, this league reminds me of MLB to some extent. The best chance the majority of teams have is to get lucky, while the teams spending the most money have an overwhelming advantage. It's not impossible for others to win, it's just very unlikely. Seems grossly unfair and brings all the elements of real sports that I am trying to get away from into this hobby. (Although at least this league didn't bring us Steely McBeam.)

 

[chris1969]

Your strategy in that league is to either buy enough chances to ensure you get the #1 or 2 pick, hope by blind luck you get the # 1 or 2 pick, or quit the league, because the only guys with a chance are the guys with a #1 or 2 pick.

Sounds like the best option to me. Actually, this league reminds me of MLB to some extent. The best chance the majority of teams have is to get lucky, while the teams spending the most money have an overwhelming advantage. It's not impossible for others to win, it's just very unlikely. Seems grossly unfair and brings all the elements of real sports that I am trying to get away from into this hobby. (Although at least this league didn't bring us Steely McBeam.)

That will only last for a season.Then Cowher will find a job with another team.

 

[chris1969]

Hmm...

14 teams times $50 = 700

75 balls * $10 = 750

Why not double the fee and forget the whole lottery circus and the buying of a championship thing. Charge for trades and waiver wire pick-ups and maybe add some fines for not turning in a line-up ect... Anything but allowing any team to become the Yankees of the league. You'll lose too many good owners.

 

[secretid]

Depending on the payout structure you could consider bidding on just 1 ball (is 0 an option?) and playing your way into the top 3 or 4 if you're just straight up better than them.

 

[BIGGjohnny]

I am considering either bidding enough to hopefully land me in the top 5 or not bidding anything at all and drafting from the bottom.

I have outbid the other owners the past 4 years and have won the league the past 3 years.

I found the analogy to MLB amusing. I often refer to myself as BIGG Johnny Steinbrenner.

Kindly

BIGG Johnny

THE ASSclowns

 

[stevegamer]

You might aim to outbid what you think will be at least half the owners - to avoid picking near the bottom.

Not a league structure I'd want to play in. I think the draft format is so ######ed, that I'd probably bail if my league switched to something this dumb.

Why not have aleague where you guys get points each week based on your gross pay for the week, plus some bonus points for being lucky in life? You could call it fantasy randomness.

 

[faux_bear]

If you've won this league the last 3 years, then why are you asking us for advice?

 

[BIGGjohnny]

I will be submitting my bid in this week. (14 teams) I have a feeling that 3-5 owners will be coming HEAVY with bids(probably over or around $100). Last year the top bid was $100, 3 other bids over $80 and the rest (4) under $40. I think there is 3-5 owners who will bid $40-$80 to get a shot at the top of the draft lottery and at worst be in the middle of the draft order. And I think there will be 3-5 cheap asses who will bid next to nothing. $10-$20 tops. So they will have a $50-$70 investment and someone else may have a $150+ investment in the league.

There is a flat entry fee of $50 plus the bids. My concern is the draft order is

1-14

1-14

14-1

1-14

14-1

1-14

1-14

If you are not in the top half of the draft, I feel that you will have to get VERY lucky to win money. (top 3)

If I want to ensure a top 5 pick, how much should I bid?

Kindly

BIGG Johnny

 

[BIGGjohnny]

Estimated prize pool: $1600

First $1000

Second $400

Third $200

With $50 entry...how much should I bid to be guaranteed top 3 or top 5?

Kindly

BIGG Johnny

Team ###Clown

 

[Bri]

quick pick

 

[chris1969]

Do you bid on the lottery balls 1 at a time? If so lay back and watch for a while and let the other bidders deplete their funds